Driver charged with DWI following fatal motorcycle crash in Brunswick County

BRUNSWICK COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — A motorcyclist was killed Sunday afternoon in Brunswick County after a pickup truck failed to yield at an intersection and collided with the bike, according to the North Carolina State Highway Patrol.

The crash happened around 4:41 p.m. on U.S. 17 at Green Hill Road NE. Troopers say a motorcycle was heading south on U.S. 17 when a pickup truck attempted to cross the highway from Governor’s Road NE to Green Hill Road NE and pulled into the path of the motorcycle.

The motorcyclist, identified as 45-year-old Jonathan Birchall of Supply, died at the scene.

The driver of the pickup, 77-year-old Clark Casanova of Winnabow, has been charged with felony death by motor vehicle, failure to yield the right of way, driving while impaired, and two counts of child abuse. Authorities say two juveniles were inside the pickup at the time of the crash.